Quick Manhattan transportation question
 

Hi Friends,

A quick question.

I am planning on taking the China town bus from Philadelphia to New York every morning and back in the evening during M-F the next 4 weeks.

The China town bus drops us off at 88E Broadway in Manhattan, and I need to get to 390 Park Avenue, which I believe is on Park between 53rd St and 54th St.

Could you please tell me the quickest way, (I presume subway) from 88E Broadway to 53/54 and Park and how far the subway station is from each location, in terms of walking time.


Thanks,

Andy

F train at East Broadway station. then you have to change for the E or the V train which will drop you on Lexington Ave (at 53rd St.), one avenue away from Park.

V is easier. Just get off the F a few stops later and get on the next train that comes on the same track (OK- make sure it's not another F)

If for some reason the is not running (and there are always service disruptions, so make sure to read any posters you see), switch for the E at West 4th street and get off at the same stop (Lexington ave.)

here's a map

Best bet is probably to take the 6 train from the Canal Street station to the 51st Street stop. About a 5-10 minute walk on either end.

This is by far the worse idea I've heard in a long time. I can't imagine anything more miserable than trying to take the Chinatown bus that far twice every day during rush hour.

Hi,

Do you think the Amtrak or Septa/Nj Transit would make more sense. I could take the Amtrak, but it would be double the cost of the bus.

Which would be the quickest subway to take from Penn Station to 53/Park?

Thanks,

Andy

From Penn Station to 53rd & Park...?
 

Get off the RailRoad, look for the signs to the 8th Avenue subway line (A, C, E trains) and take the E in the UPTOWN direction for four stops.

While waiting for the E train, walk forward along the platform to the north end where the front cars will arrive.

Thus when you exit the E train four stops later, at Fifth Avenue (and 53rd Street), you will be coming out onto the street near Madison Avenue. Walk one block eastwards, to Park Avenue. Enjoy the walk!

I've never done the SEPTA/NJT thing, but having previously looked into it, it didn't seem like a good idea.

Amtrak used to be about $500 for the monthly pass, but I understand that the price has gone up significantly.

The hassle and lack of flexibility of this doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Especially if you've never lived in New York before, you'll be missing out on a good opportunity to get to know the city. Have you taken the bus on this route at whatever times you're planning on taking it each day? Last time I took that particular bus at the end of morning rush hour it took 20-30 mintues just to get off of Manhattan.

Hi,

I think I may take the Amtrak...it costs $1000 a calendar month.

As for my current internship in New York, I will only commute for 19 days (i.e. 19 business days) so I don't think it is worthwhile to find a sublet in New York for a month. I much prefer the comfort of my own home and the peace of Philadelphia, at the expense of some sleep.

Additionally, I have some personal emotional reasons why I don't want to live in New York.

I guess if I take the Amtrak it be easy to catch the E train to work, and will give me more flexibility in the travel times.

Any good lunchtime eats around 53rd and Park?? :) (on a student budget!)

Thanks,
Andy

There is the soup retaurant that some FTers hold a DO at annually: La Bonne Soupe, 48 West 55th Street -- not eaten there myself.

Not much on Park itself, try the numbered cross streets. Also there are places on Lex and even more if you walk over to 3rd.

FWIW, there is also this one...

https://www.apexbus.com/p2p.aspx

...bus to Penn Sta.

The p2p circulator is a new bus service.

However, the first bus leaves at 7am from Philadelphia.

When do you expect it would reach Penn station?

I want to be at work (53/Park) around 9am.

Thanks,

Andy

Fuggedaboudit. To be at work at 9am, you need to be on the subway at Penn Stn. at 8:45. No way a bus will get you there from Phila. at rush hour on that schedule.

If you're concerned about making a good impression at work, arriving late every day won't do it.

Look into renting dormitory rooms at NYU/Columbia or in Queens if your budget is that tight.

i'd get a sublet off of craigslist.org as well. some of the cheaper manhattan neighborhoods like chinatown/east village or upper east side (not talking park av., but more like 1st avenue) may work for you. as for philly-nyc:

if you're a foreign citizen, u may be able to purchase an amtrak pass (then we start to get into their definition of "commute") but amtrak is notoriously unreliable.

SEPTA/NJ may work, but a long commute.

chinatown bus, subject to traffic conditions.

if sublet is absolutely not an option for you (i'd imagine u can spend about $1,000 for a room in a 3-br or a 2-br in Upper East Side), i'd go with SEPTA/NJ for reliability.

but $1,000 for 4 weeks for a sublet wouldn't be bad, given the transportation cost and your time and stress.

I know some people do the PHL-NYC commute on the Chinatown bus. And for 19 days, with weekends, and I was in my early 20s I might survive it - but I hope you've got a couple of weeks downtime afterwards. I'd use the 6 from Chinatown unless the weather was really bad. There's also a bus that runs up Bowery/3rd Avenue that might work.

I've got to ask though, that if you've got big issues with living in NYC, is this internship a good career choice?

It's been nine years, but when I lived in Philly I often used SEPTA/NJ Transit to get up to NYC, and I thought it was great. It cost something like $14, instead of the $80 or so Amtrak would have, and it was really just as convenient - the two trains were coordinated so the connection was super-easy: if one was late for any reason, the other waited; they were just across the track from each other, etc.

The thought of taking the bus twice a day at rush hour is sort of horrifying to me - I would need to be REALLY broke to even consider that as a possibility. Plus, I think the point about being late for work is a really good one - not only is it awfully unlikely that with the 7 am bus you'd make it in the first place, but it also allows no room for roadway problems. It's not like accidents, lane closings, etc on the turnpike are uncommon, and the buses would always be caught in that, unlike the trains.

Personally, I'd go for either the sublet or the train.

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.

I am not familiar with the Septa/NJ Transit connection. Would I have to take the R7 train from Philadelphia to Trenton and then connect on the NJ Transit to Penn Station (Manhattan) and then take the E train?

How long should I expect the journey to take me?

I know that staying in NYC may work out to be financially the same and will definitely be more comfortable, however, I dont mind trying the commute for 4 weeks. I guess I will either take the Amtrak or Septa/NJ Transit, as opposed to the bus.

Following my short stint in NYC, I am going to Vegas for a longer internship. That reminds me....do you know if there is any way I can transport my friends car from Philadelphia to Vegas...and would it be economical as opposed to renting a car for about $100/week for 8 weeks in Vegas, plus insurance.

Thanks
Andy